Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Existing in or derived from nature; not made or caused by humankind: Pertaining to the physical world and its phenomena, as opposed to things created by human beings.
   • In accordance with the nature of, or circumstances surrounding, someone or something: Being what is expected based on inherent qualities or normal conditions.
   • Having an innate skill or quality; born with a particular talent: Possessing an ability from birth without needing to be taught.
   • (Of a parent or child) Related by blood; biological: Not adoptive.
   • (Of a note) Not sharp or flat: A note that is neither raised nor lowered by a semitone.
   • Not processed, refined, or altered: In a raw or pure state, with minimal human intervention.

2. Noun:

   • A person regarded as having an innate gift or talent for a particular task or activity: Someone who is inherently suited or skilled for something.
   • (In the game of craps) A first roll of 7 or 11, which wins immediately.
   • (Music) A sign (♮) denoting a return to the natural pitch after a sharp or flat; a note affected by this sign.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • The park is a beautiful natural environment. (The park's environment exists as part of nature.)
  • It's only natural to feel nervous before a big speech. (The feeling of nervousness is expected and normal in that situation.)
  • She is a natural leader. (She has an innate, untaught ability to lead.)
  • He is her natural father. (He is her biological father.)
  • The song is written in the key of C natural. (The song uses the note C without any sharps or flats.)
  • We prefer to eat natural foods without additives. (The foods are unprocessed.)

• Noun:

  • With her charisma, she's a natural for politics. (She is innately suited for a career in politics.)
  • He rolled a natural and won the game of craps. (His first roll was a 7 or 11, resulting in an immediate win.)
  • The score requires a natural on that F note. (The musical notation indicates the F should be played without a sharp or flat.)

Advanced Usage

• "In the natural course of events": As things normally or typically happen.
  • In the natural course of events, leaves fall in autumn.
• "Die a natural death": To die from age or illness, not by accident or violence.
  • The old cat died a natural death.
• "Natural language": A language that has developed naturally through use, like English or Spanish, as opposed to a constructed language like computer code.
  • Processing natural language is a complex task for AI.

Variants and Related Words

• Naturally (adverb): In a natural manner; as might be expected.
  • She speaks naturally in front of crowds.
• Naturalness (noun): The quality or state of being natural.
  • The naturalness of her performance was praised.
• Naturalize (verb): To admit a foreigner to citizenship; to cause (a plant or animal) to become established in the wild.
  • The government agreed to naturalize the long-term residents.
• Supernatural (adjective): Attributed to forces beyond scientific understanding or the laws of nature. (This is an antonymic compound, showing the contrast to "natural".)
• Natural gas (noun phrase): A flammable gas mixture occurring naturally underground, used as fuel. (This is a specific compound term.)

Synonyms

• Adjective: Innate, inborn, inherent, instinctive, normal, organic, pure, raw, unrefined.
• Noun: Talent, prodigy, genius.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

Note: "Natural" is primarily an adjective and noun. It does not commonly form phrasal verbs. Its related verb, "naturalize," can be used with prepositions. - Naturalize as: To become a citizen of a new country. - He was naturalized as a citizen last year.

Related Idioms

• A natural-born [something]: Someone with an innate, exceptional ability in a specific area.
  • She's a natural-born storyteller.
• Come naturally to someone: To be easy or instinctive for someone.
  • Public speaking comes naturally to him.
• Against nature: Contrary to what is considered normal or morally right.
  • Such cruelty seems to be against nature.

Adjective

1. free from artificiality
   • a lifelike pose
   • a natural reaction
2. being talented through inherited qualities
   • a natural leader
   • a born musician
   • an innate talent
3. related by blood; not adopted
4. (used especially of commodities) being unprocessed or manufactured using only simple or minimal processes
   • natural yogurt
   • natural produce
   • raw wool
   • raw sugar
   • bales of rude cotton
5. unthinking; prompted by (or as if by) instinct
   • a cat's natural aversion to water
   • offering to help was as instinctive as breathing
6. (of a musical note) being neither raised nor lowered by one chromatic semitone
   • a natural scale
   • B natural
7. functioning or occurring in a normal way; lacking abnormalities or deficiencies
   • it's the natural thing to happen
   • natural immunity
   • a grandparent's natural affection for a grandchild
8. existing in or in conformity with nature or the observable world; neither supernatural nor magical
   • a perfectly natural explanation
9. existing in or produced by nature; not artificial or imitation
   • a natural pearl
   • natural gas
   • natural silk
   • natural blonde hair
   • a natural sweetener
   • natural fertilizers
10. in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
    • a very natural development
    • our natural environment
    • natural science
    • natural resources
    • natural cliffs
    • natural phenomena

Noun

1. (craps) a first roll of 7 or 11 that immediately wins the stake
2. a notation cancelling a previous sharp or flat
3. someone regarded as certain to succeed
   • he's a natural for the job